February 25, 2018 ~ Lenten Reflections (English & Espanol)

I have sometimes wondered how I would have reacted had I been in Abraham’s shoes (or, probably sandals) and God had asked me to sacrifice my only son to Him as a sign of my faith. It would have been heartbreakingly difficult, and without an ENORMOUS infusion of grace, and supported only my own strength, I’m sure I would have FAILED the test.

How do I know that? Because I have failed the test in much simpler circumstances over and over in my life, where the stakes are not nearly as high. The Lord asked me for simple sacrifices (fasting from certain things that I enjoy, undertaking uncomfortable and difficult chores with joy, spending more time more frequently in quiet prayer) and all too often I refused.

I either pretended not to hear Him, or succeed in convincing myself that it probably wasn’t really the Lord speaking in the first place.

Now, today, realizing my own rather selfish past, I am invited, once again, to TRUST the Lord: to believe that He offers me the grace to overcome those sinful self-centered patterns of behavior TODAY. And then, FORTIFIED by God’s grace, maybe I will one day succeed in being able to imitate, even in small ways, Abraham’s awesome faith.